Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

The Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology,through support from the National Science Foundation, hosts a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on Sustainable Nanotechnology. Selected participants will spend 10 weeks conducting research in collaboration with one more principal investigators of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. Each student will be located at one of the participating institutions but will interact with faculty and students at all institutions via in-person and cyber-enabled interactions. (CSN institutions include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Augsburg University, Boston University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.)

Research projects include:

Synthesis and functionalization of novel types of nanomaterials

Molecular-level interaction of nanomaterials with lipid bilayers

Influence of surface ligands and nanoparticle bulk composition on uptake of nanoparticles by organisms

Molecular-level changes induced in organisms by exposure to nanoparticles

Development and application of methods for in situ characterization of nanomaterials in biological/environmental matrices

Computational characterization and prediction of SNPs across many scales (from angstroms to meters)

Program highlights:

Faculty-led seminars on various topics in sustainability and nanotechnology

Tutorials on applying to, surviving, and excelling in graduate school

Presentation of your research results and conclusions to other students and faculty

Social activities with other summer researchers

Training in cross-disciplinary research linking chemistry with biological science and materials science

Direct interaction with faculty mentors

Program Details:

Students receive a $5,000 stipend

In addition to the stipend, the CSN also provides:

Housing and meals

Travel expenses to and from the host institution

Travel expenses to and from the University of Minnesota for an orientation meeting at the beginning of the summer

Program Dates: 10 weeks beginning late May/early June (exact dates depend on the schedule of the student and the host institution)

Applications are now closed for summer 2019. Please check back in the fall for information on next year’s program.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, grant number CHE-1503408. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this web site are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the participating institutions.